Skepticism grows over North Korea’s claims of hydrogen bomb

Skepticism grows about the authenticity of the North Korea’s claims that a hydrogen bomb test was a success.

“The initial analysis that’s been conducted of the events that reported overnight is not consistent with what North Korean claims of a successful hydrogen bomb test,” said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest.

But scientists say the story doesn’t add up.

“Had he truly detonated a huge hydrogen bomb like the one he was talking about in Russia, it would have made a bigger impact,” said Vista Ridge High School linear physics teacher Andrew Simmons. Simmons also spent time in the Air Force as a pilot, utilizing physics principles. He said if the test had been successful, a much stronger earthquake would have been reported than the 5.4-magnitude quake.

Hydrogen bombs are different from atomic bombs. There is no limit to the scale of destruction they can cause.

“It’s scaleable, you can scale it down. But when you start scaling it down, it becomes a more difficult to build,” he said.

That difficulty to build has led skeptics to question whether they believe North Korea’s claims.

“To continue to grab attention and gain credibility as a military threat,” said Steve Recca with UCCS. He’s referring to past missile tests by the North since 2006.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is calling on the U.N. Security Council to hold North Korea accountable “by imposing a tough, comprehensive and credible package of new sanctions” in response to that country’s announced nuclear test.

Ambassador Samantha Power issued a statement shortly after the council met in an emergency session on Pyongyang’s announcement.

Power says the international community must respond to the news with “steadily increasing pressure” and rigorous enforcement of existing sanctions.

A council statement says it will begin work immediately on a resolution for new measures against North Korea.

Power’s statement also says North Korea has “isolated itself and impoverished its people through its reckless pursuit of weapons of mass destruction.”